Gangster No. 1

Starring:Malcolm McDowell, David Thewlis, Paul Bettany, Saffron Burrows, Kenneth Cranham, Jamie Foreman, Eddie Marsan, Andrew Lincoln, Doug Allen (II), Razaaq Adoti, Cavan Clerkin, David Kennedy, Johnny Harris (II), Anton Saunders, Alex McSweeney, Martin Wimbush, Binky Baker, Martyn Read, Johnnie Ould, Don McCorkindale
Director: Paul McGuigan
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This glinting, scalding gangland phantasmagoria offers a sort of funhouse-mirror refraction of the life and career of a British hooligan so elemental in his right villainy that he's merely identified as "Gangster." The action begins in 1999, with Malcolm McDowell brutishly savoring his eminence as a crime lord; but more of the film is taken up with an extended flashback to 1968, when his youthful self--played by Paul Bettany (but voiced by McDowell during private reveries)--got his start. Bettany's patron is Freddie Mays, "the Butcher of Mayfair" (David Thewlis), a comparatively suave rotter whom "Young Gangster" more or less simultaneously worships, emulates, and craves to see destroyed. Director Paul McGuigan layers the eras and personalities in a kaleidoscope of jagged stylization (occasionally the image shatters like glass, then hellishly reconstitutes itself). The effect is less to tell a proper story than to suspend us in a state of mind--and a homage to McDowell's landmark role in A Clockwork Orange. But it does exert an unclean fascination. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

"Fascinating" (The Hollywood Reporter) and "sensational" (Los Angeles Times), this bold, innovative thriller chronicles the bloody, single-minded climb of a barbarous crime lord to power. Starring Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind), David Thewlis (Naked) and Saffron Burrows (Deep Blue Sea), Gangster No. 1 enters the psyche of an unrepentant mobster and reveals the madman within. Bettany gives "a brilliantly eerie, star-making performance" (American Film Institute) as a ruthless mobster who slugs, claws and kills his way to the top. But when he learns that the former mentor (Thewlis) he put in prison is about to get out, this self-made monster must not only face a man whose life he ruined but the twisted remnants of his own demented conscience as well.

Customer Reviews:

RUBBISH.......2007-05-14

ANOTHER TIMES WASTER, CHRIST THIS FILM JUST DRAGS ON, MALCOLM MCDOWELL IS TOTALLY UNCONVINCING AS USUAL, HE WILL ALWAYS BE THE CREEP IN CALIGULA
AND THAT TOSSER IN CLOCKWORK ORANGE.
THIS FILM JUST SUCKS.

It looks like one of those great '60s British gangster movies.......2007-01-10

...only it's new. Directed by Paul McGuigan in 2000 it's a bit underrated. It's hard gangster like Long Good Friday, The Krays, the acting and writing great and the period work flawless. It feels like a film made back then. It's an early film of this director who's also done Lucky #Slevin, also worth seeing. In any case, I consider this one a keeper.

King F-ing Kong.......2006-04-24

Truly Remarkable, British Film. I have watched this film 18 times but I still love it. It will have you crying, cringing, laughing, and watching over and over again.

Paul Bettany's character is completely opposite to the one he plays in Wimbledon, which proves that he has talent to pull off the challenging task of acting out gangsta's role. A man that takes the meaning of 'gangsta' to a new level, that is both clever yet twisted.

The film which is based in 1960's London, has trembling violence and a storyline that will keep you enthralled until the very end. This story of greed, rationale and revenge, is British cinemas' version of Scarface, but is more realistic and not for the faint-hearted.

Be warned, if you are used to Hollywood fake gangsta's that are loveable rogues, then this is not for you. For all those others that enjoy realistic gangsta's with no compassion, no remorse just pure dedication then ths is your No.1 - Gangster No.1.

See why Bettany would have been a great Joker..........2006-04-10

Paul Bettany plays the younger Malcom McDowell, but looks nothing like him and I was unable to suspend my disbelief. However, his physical appearance -- a six foot three, pale faced string bean -- and his characterization of pure evil make it clear why he was on the short list to play the Joker in the sequel to Batman Begins. He would have embodied the Joker of the graphic novels.

As for this movie, it is a grim and gritty British gangster flick. Atmospheric, but unpleasant. Not a bad movie, but about bad people with no redeeming qualities. You rooted for Michael Caine in GET CARTER even though he was a villain. You don't root for this bloke.

ADDENDUM -- Turns out Bettany will not be the Joker. The part went to Heath Ledger. My first impression is that this is bad casting -- we will have to wait and see.

It makes me wonder..........2006-01-21

....when some reviewers call this one of the worst or worst movies they have seen.
Not a bad Brit 'gangster' movie. No it is not the Godfather.
Brit gangster films are different. My fave being The Long Good Friday with Bob Hoskins.
Interesting character studies of the leading 3 players.

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Killer DVD Collection

ProductGroup: DVD
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Amazon.com

This giftset includes 14 edge-of-your-seat thrillers including: Silence of the Lambs, Misery, Fargo (Special Edition), Manhunter, Hannibal (Special Edition), Kalifornia, Eye of the Needle, House of Games, Gangster No. 1, The January Man, Malice, Perfect Strangers, Special Effects and Dead Man Walking.

Average customer rating:

Lau ching Wan, my favorite fat guy of HK cinema

Too Many Ways to Be No. 1
Starring: Ching Wan Lau , Francis Ng , Tat-Ming Cheung , Matt Chow , and Elvis Tsui
Director: Ka-Fai Wai
Manufacturer: Tai Seng
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005S6KK
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Customer Reviews:

Lau ching Wan, my favorite fat guy of HK cinema.......2005-10-15

This is one wigged out flick. It tells the story of a low-level gangster with a developing code of ethics marred by rotten luck. The film takes on the story from a crossroads in the young thug's life. His choices reflect his fate. The camera angles will surely engross those who chose to watch films under the influence. I think the director was out to prove a point with this fantastically weird film. Lau ching Wan plays a good schlub, endearing of our compassion while we hate him for having a Charlie brown cloud of bad luck. I feel the story is strong as are the actors' performances.

Average customer rating:

RUBBISH
It looks like one of those great '60s British gangster movies
King F-ing Kong
See why Bettany would have been a great Joker...
It makes me wonder...

Gangster No. 1 [Region 2]
Starring: Malcolm McDowell , David Thewlis , Paul Bettany , Saffron Burrows , and Kenneth Cranham
Director: Paul McGuigan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video